| The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) celebrated the 2023 AIMP Nashville Country Awards on Wednesday evening at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The event, sponsored by Spotify, was hosted by songwriting legends Bob DiPiero and Craig Wiseman and paid tribute to the best of Nashville's independent songwriters and publishers. |
| “It is great to gather the independent publishing community once again at the Ryman,” says Ree Guyer, President, AIMP Nashville Chapter. “We are fortunate to feel the love and support for one another in the room.” |
| True to AIMP tradition, the evening was filled with unique and intimate performances by both past and present Rising Artist-Writer of the Year and Artist-Writer of the Year nominees. Each song nominated in the Song of the Year category as well as the Publisher Picks were given its moment to shine with an acoustic set performed by someone other than the original artist or writer. This year’s performers included Jon Pardi, Tenille Arts, Corey Kent, Pillbox Patti, Meg McRee, Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, HARDY, Ruston Kelly, Jordan Davis, and ERNEST. |
| Among the night’s winners were Song of the Year “You Should Probably Leave,” written by Ashley Gorley, Chris DuBois, and Chris Stapleton, Round Hill Music was named Publisher of the Year, and Michael Hardy, who took home both Artist-Writer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. The 2023 Rising Songwriter of the Year award went to Ryan Beaver (SMACKSongs) and Rising Artist-Writer of the Year was given to ERNEST (Big Loud Publishing). |
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| The Publisher Pick of the Year ended in a historic tie and was awarded to both “Don’t Think Jesus,” written by Mark Holman, Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill, and “Reverse Cowgirl,” written by Jared Scott, Joe Fox, Zack Dyer. The Most Streamed Country Song of the Year was awarded to "Wasted On You," written by Morgan Wallen, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson, and Charlie Handsome. Warner Music Nashville’s Co-President Cris Lacy was also presented the 2023 Song Champion Award. |
| AIMP Nashville members, nominees, sponsors, and students from surrounding music business schools were in attendance. Additional sponsors for the evening included ASCAP, BMI, GMR, SESAC, ACM, and Loeb & Loeb. |
| For a full list of this year’s winners, visit www.aimpnashvilleawards.com |
